Nepali Wanderer

For much of my life, I never wanted to be a teacher. I know what you’re thinking — like who does? But trust me, in my case, the aversion was particularly strong. Both of my parents are teachers, and I literally grew up in a school, attending my parents’ school for twelve years. Surrounded by teachers all the time, I was convinced I should escape and do other things.

After enrolling in an engineering program, I was set on working in a field related to computer programming. My interest in various disciplines led me to pursue further studies in Data Science. Eventually, I returned home and started working at a data-related company, far removed from the world of teaching. Or so I thought.

One day, I received a message inviting me to design an online course on Data Science, with an option to deliver the course if I was interested. My idea of teaching involved a traditional classroom with a board and a marker, not speaking in front of recorded cameras with no students present. Therefore, I decided to take up the offer.

What seemed like a simple task turned out to be a challenge. Little did I know that doing an online course would be like acting, with countless retakes due to minor mistakes. However, these retakes refined my explanatory skills, as I had to revise my script. Things went back to normal until a senior colleague discovered my video work and approached me to conduct a Data Science training program for professionals. I saw it as a chance to make some easy side money by selling a ready-made product.

Looking back, without even fully realising it (never mind appreciating it), I had stepped into the world of teaching. I conducted two more Data Science trainings, again viewing them as a side hustle. But to my surprise, I began to enjoy the experience. Unlike most tasks where the user and creator are disconnected, training provided an immediate connection with the audience. The satisfaction of seeing someone understand a concept was immensely rewarding.

Then, one day, I received a message inviting me to formally teach at a college. I knew this would be different — students, assignments, exams, the whole academic process that I had wanted to avoid. I accepted the offer half-heartedly, and for a trivial reason: the college was within walking distance from my work, along with the extra money and a ready-made product perks. However, I quickly realized it wouldn’t be easy-peasy — an academic course meant a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts.

By the time I finished my first batch of students, I am sure I had learned more than anyone else in the class. This, I believe, is the most underrated benefit of teaching. To teach effectively, you need to fully understand the material yourself. I know it sounds obvious, but many teachers I have had, including myself at times, have taught without fully grasping the content. The internal reward I mentioned earlier only comes when you teach well. This drive for internal reward and self-improvement led me to enhance my content for subsequent batches. After completing my second batch, I was much more confident about my understanding of key Statistics and Machine Learning concepts.

It has been five years since I first started teaching, mostly on a part-time basis, and sometimes almost full-time. From starting at 26 when most of my students were my age to now, slowly realising I am getting older (let’s forget this getting older part). Apart from improving my own understanding and experiencing that immediate reward, teaching has benefited other aspects of my life. Public speaking, which had always been my biggest fear, became more comfortable as I essentially delivered a presentation every lecture. My explanatory skills improved across various fields, making me appreciate how transferable the skill of teaching is.

Interestingly, teaching has also improved my writing. Although I wanted to write even before getting into teaching, my teaching experience made it easier to organise my thoughts and explain them clearly. I almost get that teaching vibe whenever I am writing, feeling the urge to connect the dots and explain better. (Maybe that’s why I get too verbose with my writing?) Teaching has also greatly benefited my Data Science career, especially in communicating complex technical concepts to a general audience. I recall an instance where I had to explain a Machine Learning model to local stakeholders in a remote village in Nepal, which to this day is the most rewarding experience of my teaching career.

One final aspect of teaching is the ample free time compared to a regular 9-5 job. Over the past year, I have traveled more than I ever imagined, thanks to the flexibility teaching offers. However, this same feature can be a bug, leading to complacency. As growth never happens in the comfort zone, it’s important to introduce challenges, whether within teaching or through industry work. Now that I have had my fill of travel (for now, obviously), I plan to take on more projects outside of teaching this year.

I still don’t see myself as a full-time teacher, nor do I plan to become one anytime soon. But whatever I do next, teaching will always be an integral part of me. One thing I find amazing is how the ability to teach came naturally to me. So, I look back at my own childhood and that rare experience of growing up in a school. And how the same experience that initially distanced me from the world of teaching likely played a significant role. The experiences we have as kids leave a lasting imprint, and my early exposure to teaching may have made it come naturally to me. And of course, not to forget my talkative nature that has helped massively!